The iconic Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus is finally closing its curtain after more than 100 years of operation.

In a press release issued by Feld Entertainment, the production company behind the famed circus troupe since 1967, it was announced that the show's final performance ever will be held in May.

Declining ticket sales "made the circus an unsustainable business for the company," Feld Entertainment CEO Kenneth Feld revealed in the release, adding that after the circus pulled its elephants from the show, the event "saw an even more dramatic drop" in attendance.

For years, the Ringling Bros. circus, which was established in 1884, has come under fire for its controversial inclusion and alleged abusive treatment of performance elephants, as well as its many other performing animals.

After the announcement was made, many animal rights activists, including PETA, celebrated the victory for animal welfare on social media. Others, however, expressed their disappointment over the loss of an American entertainment institution.

See some varied reactions from stars like Pamela Anderson, Seth MacFarlane and more, below: